Friday, May 14, 2010

First, let me fill you in on my life (if anyone is interested)...After my trip, I've been thinking about priorities...and although this blog is important to me, other things are taking priority...but before I go there, I wanted to share this photograph with you, along with it's story. Short story...we have wild peacocks in the neighborhood - one male (I call him, "Gigilo George), and three females - no names, just "The girls". I had some strawberries that had become mushy, so I tossed them off the back porch, assuming "Blossem" the opossem, or our new friend, the racoon, would find them. Instead, I opened the door to check on the grill, and there were "the girls"...They took off, but I managed to get the photograph. Our Raisenette Funicello Buttafuco (he headbutts) was in the chair on the porch, eyes bulging, calling to them to not go....I love our little piece of the country.Now, to the issue at hand...since the "recession/depression/economic downturn/whatever, I have pretty much come to a designing for builders standstill. That said, as many have had to do, I am assessing my talents and my possibilities. I am a fairly decent artist, good seamstress, and an artisan. Again, with the economy the way it is, not much happening there...So, I have the opportunity to take this time to do what so many people threaten to do....I am writing a book. Actually, I am working on two novels and a children's book. Writing is easy, you just sit down and open a vein..(not my quote)...I slave and sweat and ponder and write and toss away and save and hope that I am not writing something that will be considered dreck. I cannot write to please others...I have to write from my heart, and so I will. Will I get published? It's unlikely, as there are "slush piles" of wonderful books out there, with overworked editors, who are pretty much struggling with the publishing industry (as in Kindle, etc). But, again, it is a luxury provided by my husband to get the "green light" to just go for it...and so I am. So, after writing every day (at least I am attempting to do that), the blog suffers.

I have seen a great change in blogging; especially, design blogs...I have seen many drop out of the game..for me, it's not been about how many followers I have, and how many "hits", etc., but it's been about reaching out and sharing. I will continue to do so, even though I don't have 10,987 hits...just do what I can when I can.As to the "Is it Cheating?", here's my question (rather, two questions)...is it cheating to repost some of my past work that I've had on here before (but with a bit of a twist), especially, some of the very early stuff? Also, I see so many blogs, where the "blogger/designer/whatever" scans photos from books and magazines, and then comments on them..as in "what inspires". I ask this question - is it interesting? I have over the years, compiled entired loose-leaf notebooks, jammed with photos from the seven million design magazines I have accumulated over the years. Since they would otherwise be piled to the rafters, I cut out what I wanted to save, and I catagorized them, as in: Kitchens, bedrooms, window treatments, etc...Problem with that is I do not know who's work it is, and to whom to attribute this great talent (I don't save boring stuff).All this said, here's a bit of an experiment: Here are several powder rooms and bathrooms that I have created in the past. Every single on of these were from the ground up. I wanted to repost them, and talk about the client's personality, and why these rooms work. So, for what it's worth....This was my favorite "over the top" powder room. My clients were world travelers (he is Phillippino -sp?), and she's not. They both love color and drama. I gold-leafed and aged the ceiling, trim, and the inside of the pocket door. I also used outdoor lanterns for lighting (with auxillary lighting up top. I usually recommend side lighting to put on make up, but for a powder room - as in "powder one's nose" (do women actually do that anymore", and a bit of lipstick, one can cheat a bit....This was a Parade of Homes powder room, but sold before building (people who buy Parade homes before they are built get all kinds of discounts and perks...it's a smart thing to do, but they do end up having 28,000 (literally) people go through their homes. Good builders make sure you cannot tell anyone has been there. It is in Wisconsin, where saturated color is uplifting during the long, grey winters. I glued "gimp" trim between the color sections to better define the borders. This was a young, vibrant family, a contemporary, couple, who entertain alot. My clients for this bathroom were two men (it happens, deal with it), who were busy professionals, with an adopted child...a wonderful couple, but wanted to have some "masculine influence" in the bath...I used Ralph Lauren Navy Blue paint, floated the cabinets, and designed a giant shower (reflected in the mirror). I am not a "design Nazi"...a good designer takes the wishes of their clients seriously, and does the best one can to make thier wishes come to fruition.

This bathroom was designed for a gorgeous blonde...beautiful in every way..she and her husband (a pro-hockey player), were in Switzerland eight months out of the year (he played for a Swiss team), so there was alot of back-and-forth decision making.....

This was the blonde's powder room. Small but dramatic...My regret is that I didn't get a good shot of the obsidion and onyx tile floor.

This was another Parade powder room, but wasn't presold, so I got to do as I wanted...using a vanity that is more like furniture, and wallcover, covered with what feels and looks like glass beads...Everyone who passed through just had to touch that wallcovering...the glass stayed on!

Last, there is the cool, contemporary "Barbara Barry" influenced bathroom. I painted an opalescent strip through the room, and a carried it into the bedroom, as well.

So, that's it folks....I will be interested in seeing if there is any response at all..If not, I will continue to come here when I can...I do care about those people, who do come here for some news and inspiration..

About Me

Some may notice I've recently changed this profile,simply because life changes...I've become a Texan through- and -through...living just outside of the wonderful city of Austin...Since moving here five years ago, I've become who I was before I left the South (having lived in Boston, Wisconsin, et al), where things are not as relaxed. I love it here.
I have always been involved in the arts..Interior Design, Photography, Photo Styling, Artist, Floral Designer, Gardener, writer...That's the ETC. in my business, and in my life...also, being a Gemini, I can happily move back-and-forth; for me, change is good...death is doing the same thing day in and day out....welcome to my world...